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The Hill: Fast talk from the fast-track salesmen
Pro-TPP Democrats are trying to close on fast track deal by pointing to protections "required" by the TPA bill. Trouble is Democrats have left no recourse to stop the deal by themselves if conditions ranging from transparancy to labor and environmental rules are not met. Ron Wyden left that part entirely up to Republicans who, conveniently, never wanted most of those protections included in the first place.
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/finance/244375-fast-talk-from-the-fast-track-salesmen
More importantly, if you look at the language of the TPA bill, you see the claim that TPA "makes the president follow dozens of strict objectives" is transparently false.
Section 103(b)(2) of the Trade Act of 2015 says a trade agreement will be considered under the expedited rules of TPA "if such agreement makes progress in meeting the applicable objectives described".
Notice that it doesn't say the agreement must meet the objectives, or even that it must meet 99 percent of the objectives. No, if it "makes progress" in meeting the objectives, that's good enough. Talk about the soft bigotry of low expectations.
.........................
And who decides if Obama made progress? The same folks desperate to get the deal through Congress in the first place.
Even if a member were to suggest that President Obama did not "make progress" in obeying the wishes of Congress (imagine that), the complaint would be referred to the Ways and Means Committee. Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and his pro-TPA stalwarts would be under no obligation to bring the complaint up for a vote or send it to the full House. The move to cancel fast-track stands about as much chance as civil rights legislation in a Dixiecrat-run committee in the 1940s.
Section 103(b)(2) of the Trade Act of 2015 says a trade agreement will be considered under the expedited rules of TPA "if such agreement makes progress in meeting the applicable objectives described".
Notice that it doesn't say the agreement must meet the objectives, or even that it must meet 99 percent of the objectives. No, if it "makes progress" in meeting the objectives, that's good enough. Talk about the soft bigotry of low expectations.
.........................
And who decides if Obama made progress? The same folks desperate to get the deal through Congress in the first place.
Even if a member were to suggest that President Obama did not "make progress" in obeying the wishes of Congress (imagine that), the complaint would be referred to the Ways and Means Committee. Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and his pro-TPA stalwarts would be under no obligation to bring the complaint up for a vote or send it to the full House. The move to cancel fast-track stands about as much chance as civil rights legislation in a Dixiecrat-run committee in the 1940s.
More at the link.
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/finance/244375-fast-talk-from-the-fast-track-salesmen
